Safety first
An automatic gate is heavy and strong. Before you touch the gate, the arm or the chain, turn the opener off at its power switch, and keep kids and pets clear. Never reach into the arm, hinges or chain while the gate can move. And don't turn up the force or sensitivity setting to make a stuck gate go. That setting is part of what keeps the gate from hurting someone.
1. Check the power
Start simple. Is the opener getting power?
- Plug-in openers: check the breaker and any GFCI outlet that feeds the gate. Storms and sprinklers trip these a lot.
- Solar openers: look at the panel. Dust, pollen, bird mess or a tree that has grown in over the summer can keep it from charging. A run of cloudy days in winter can also run the battery down.
2. Check the batteries
Most openers have a backup or main battery in the control box. Batteries wear out after a few years, and the Texas heat inside a metal box is hard on them. A weak battery often shows up as a gate that moves slowly, stops partway or works fine at noon and quits at night. If your battery is several years old, it's a likely suspect.
3. Look at the photo eyes
Photo eyes (safety sensors) are the small boxes on posts on either side of the drive. If the beam between them is blocked or out of line, the gate won't close, or it starts closing and reverses.
- Wipe the lenses with a soft cloth. Spider webs and dirt are common.
- Make sure nothing is in the beam: grass, a trash can, a parked car.
- Check that neither eye got bumped by a mower or a truck. Most have a small light that shows when they're lined up.
- Low evening sun shining straight into a sensor can confuse it for a few minutes a day.
4. Try another remote
If the gate works from the keypad or the button but not from your remote, the remote is the problem. Replace the small battery in it. If a new battery doesn't help, the remote may need to be reprogrammed to the receiver. If no remote works but the keypad does, the receiver or its antenna may be the issue.
5. Listen for alarms and lockouts
Many newer openers beep or sound an alarm and stop working after they bump into something twice in a row. That's a safety feature. The opener usually needs a reset, often a button on the control board or a specific remote sequence, once the obstruction is cleared. Your owner's manual will show how for your model. If it keeps locking out, something is making the gate work too hard, and that needs a closer look.
6. Release it and move the gate by hand
Every opener has a manual release, usually a key or a lever on the arm or the opener body. With the power off, release it and move the gate by hand.
- If the gate swings or rolls easily, the problem is in the opener.
- If it's hard to move, drags on the ground or binds, the problem is the gate. A sagging gate, a leaning hinge post, a worn hinge or wheel, or debris in a slide gate's track will make any opener struggle.
Lock the opener back in when you're done, or the gate won't run.
7. Gate stops short or goes too far
If the gate opens or closes but stops a little short or slams past where it should, the limit settings may have drifted, or the gate has shifted. Setting limits is different on every opener, and it's easy to make worse. Check the manual, or let us handle it.
8. Ants in the control box
This one surprises people. Fire ants love to nest in warm control boxes, and they can short out the board or the connections. If you open the box and find ants, that's very likely your problem. Don't spray liquid inside the box. Call us.
When to call
Call for repair if the gate is off its hinges or track, a post is leaning, the opener hums but won't move, you see burnt or chewed wiring, or it keeps locking out. Those usually mean a part, the board or the gate itself needs work. We repair LiftMaster, All-O-Matic, US Automatic and most other brands, no matter who installed them. We'll find out what's wrong before we replace anything. See gate opener repair or request a repair quote.
Common questions
Why won't my gate close but it will open?
The most common cause is the photo eyes. If the safety beam is blocked, dirty or out of line, most openers will not close the gate. Clean the lenses, clear the beam and check that both sensors are lined up.
Why does my gate opener beep and stop working?
Many openers sound an alarm and lock out after hitting an obstruction twice in a row. Clear the obstruction and reset the opener as shown in the manual. If it keeps happening, the gate is likely dragging or binding and needs repair.
How do I open my gate when the power is out?
Use the manual release, usually a key or lever on the opener or arm. With the power off, release it and move the gate by hand. Lock it back in afterward so the opener works again.
Why does my solar gate opener stop working at night?
Usually a weak battery or a panel that is not charging well. Clean the panel, check that nothing shades it, and replace the battery if it is several years old.